GUWAHATI, April 9 ? The North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) has undertaken a promotional scheme for commercialisation of some important medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) of the region with special emphasis on Patchouli, an aromatic plant used widely in perfumes, medicines and toiletry. Sri J P Saikia, the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of NEDFi said this at the three-day National Workshop on Commercialisation of Patchouli that began at the Assam Administrative Staff College here today. A number of experts, scientists, farmers, entrepreneurs and industrialists from different parts of the country are taking part in the workshop organised jointly by NEDFi and National Horticulture Board (NHB).
Underscoring the need to tap the immense economic potential of the wide variety of wild herbs produced in the North-east, Sri Saikia rued that commercial cultivation of those was almost non-existent. To reverse this trend, NEDFi has already set up a research and development (R&D) centre for some important MAPs at Dispur. The R&D centre will identify the species and develop agro-technology of the selected species for commercialisation, creation of awareness on the potentials of these resources and finally create a business atmosphere, he revealed. NEDFi also offers various schemes to provide financial support to Patchouli farmers, he said. Sri M Ahmed, scientist, R&D Centre for MAP, spoke on the tremendous export potential of Patchouli. ?The region can offer most potential areas for its commercial production to the tune of 300 tonnes annually without encroaching on normal crops,? he pointed out.;lkjhn .../. Patchouli oil produced in Assam also meets international standards, he added.
Dr Akhtar Hussain, former Director, CIMAP, Lucknow, in his keynote address, said that Patchouli is a humid, tropical plant suited for cultivation in the North-east. Right now India imports about 40 tonnes of Patchouli oil from Indonesia every year. With the commercial cultivation of the plant in the North-East, the scenario is likely to change, he added. Earlier, inaugurating the workshop, State Agriculture Minister Sri Ardhendu Dey said besides its commercial value and export potential, Patchouli cultivation could also create employment generation as it was labour intensive.